Sunset Yellow FCF
What you need to know
Sunset Yellow is a synthetic orange-yellow colour (FD&C Yellow 6 in the US), used in soft drinks, ice blocks, sweets and snacks.
It is one of the “Southampton Six” colours. In the European Union, foods containing it must carry the children's-attention warning label. The US permits it with no warning.
EFSA re-assessed it in 2014 and set the acceptable daily intake at 4 mg/kg body weight per day — typical diets stay below this.
Where it stands, by region
The same additive can be approved in one country and banned in another. This is the divergence that matters most.
| 🇦🇺AU / NZ | Approved Permitted (FSANZ Food Standards Code). |
| 🇪🇺EU | Approved · warning label Permitted with the children's-attention warning label (Southampton colours). |
| 🇺🇸US | Approved Permitted as FD&C Yellow No. 6; must be declared by name. |
| 🇨🇦CA | Approved Permitted (Health Canada). |
Health evidence
How settled the science is for each area — not how dangerous. “Unknown” means not enough good studies yet.
Disodium 6-hydroxy-5-[(4-sulfonatophenyl)azo]naphthalene-2-sulfonate. FD&C Yellow No. 6 in the US. ADI 4 mg/kg bw/day (EFSA, 2014 revision).